Is mating a reliable sign of a hen starting to lay.

[Ohgrr]

I've tried to find a good discussion on this but so far I haven't had any luck, forgive me if it is out there.

I have a flock of hens and one definite rooster. All the girls are between 15-17 weeks of age. My cochin has become receptive to my roo and started mating today. Is this a good sign laying is imminent?

 

[Chick Charm]

No, If you mean that will she lay in the next few days after first beginning to mate. It can take several weeks to several months before a pullet begins to lay after mating.

Yes. If you mean that she will lay in the next few weeks to months. The mating and squatting of a hen precedes the laying of an egg. Sometimes by weeks sometimes by months. However speaking in generalities, the mating act does indeed indicate the maturity of a pullet and overall does indicate to some extent that yes she will lay sometime "soon". It may be months before that happens but can happen within a few weeks.

There is no set gauge on how many days from mating will a pullet begin to lay. Some hens avoid a roo because they don't like to be mounted or they don't like that particular roo.

Wish ya the best.

 

[Ohgrr]

Thank you very much! I appreciate the info!

 

[McGlasers]

I am new at this and had the same question! My pullets are around 17 weeks, too.Thank you for your post and for the response! Happy Waiting!

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

No, If you mean that will she lay in the next few days after first beginning to mate. It can take several weeks to several months before a pullet begins to lay after mating.

Yes. If you mean that she will lay in the next few weeks to months. The mating and squatting of a hen precedes the laying of an egg. Sometimes by weeks sometimes by months. However speaking in generalities, the mating act does indeed indicate the maturity of a pullet and overall does indicate to some extent that yes she will lay sometime "soon". It may be months before that happens but can happen within a few weeks.

There is no set gauge on how many days from mating will a pullet begin to lay. Some hens avoid a roo because they don't like to be mounted or they don't like that particular roo.

Wish ya the best.

x2.

 

[Ohgrr]

The answer was... two days! She laid her first egg July 20th Thanks for the responses everyone!

 

[Chick Charm]

Congrats. That is the best part of having chickens.

 

[Delight30]

No, If you mean that will she lay in the next few days after first beginning to mate. It can take several weeks to several months before a pullet begins to lay after mating.

Yes. If you mean that she will lay in the next few weeks to months. The mating and squatting of a hen precedes the laying of an egg. Sometimes by weeks sometimes by months. However speaking in generalities, the mating act does indeed indicate the maturity of a pullet and overall does indicate to some extent that yes she will lay sometime "soon". It may be months before that happens but can happen within a few weeks.

There is no set gauge on how many days from mating will a pullet begin to lay. Some hens avoid a roo because they don't like to be mounted or they don't like that particular roo.

Wish ya the best.

 

[MontanaDolphin]

My roo has been mounting the females for a month, and I only got my first egg yesterday. So I believe it just depends on the chicken!

 

[Ohgrr]

I'm sure it does. I think I got lucky. It's 20 weeks and she is still the only one to lay. I've got another hen starting to squat so I'm hoping to start getting more eggs soon.